CACTI FOR AMATEURS 369 



stems an inch or two high, others making stems a foot or more high 

 which rarely branch, while another set form round thick stems, three or 

 four inches high, and of the same diameter. Of the taller ones, M, 

 sulphurea, covered with soft yellow spines ; spinosissima, var. brunea. 

 with similar white spines ; pyramidalis and flavispina with yellow ; and 

 M. fuscata, with grey spines, are the best. Of the short globular set, 

 M. dolicho centra, Nicholsonii, mutabilis, bicolor, and rutila are useful, 

 while of dwarf much branched plants, M . stellaris, elongata, stellata, var. 

 aurata, pulchella, densa, tenuis, and elongata make pretty plants. The 

 flowers of this genus are borne from near the apex of the stem, and are 

 often bright coloured. Melocactus is characterised by a thick, short, 

 Echinocactus-like stem, but the flowers are produced in a large cup-like 

 head, which continues to increase in size for many years. The Turk's 

 Cap Cactus (Melocactus communis), a West Indian plant, makes a large 

 head of red flowers, shaped like a Turk's cap, hence its name. It is the 

 best representative of the few cultivated species. 



Opuntia is known by its many-jointed stems, the portions between 

 the joints being flat and wide, or in a few instances cylindrical. The 

 flowers are produced from the edges of the stems. The fruit is pear- 

 shaped, and in some species edible, known as Indian figs and prickly 

 pears. A very large number of species are grown, some of the most 

 distinct being 0. arborescens, aurantiaca, candelabriformis, cylindrica, 

 decumana, ferox, Ficus-indica, glaucophylla, grandis, leucotricha, nigri- 

 cans, and Dillenii. 



Pereskia is a climbing genus, very distinct by reason of its leafy 

 stems and terminal panicles of flowers. P. aculeata and P. Bleo are the 

 best known. They are often used as stocks for Epiphyllums, either as 

 standards or trained on a roof with tufts of Epiphyllum inserted here 

 and there. For a small house they are not serviceable plants, being very 

 strong growers. 



Phyllocactus. A group of showy-flowered plants, having flattened 

 jointed stems, from the edges of which the flowers are borne. The 

 flowers are usually brilliantly coloured, six to eight inches across, with 

 long, thin tubes. A mixture of loam, peat, and rotten manure, with 

 plenty of sand, makes a suitable compost, and during the growing season 

 a warm moist house is to be recommended. The plants should be kept 

 on the dry side in winter, but not thoroughly dried off. A number of 

 species are in cultivation, among the best being P. biformis, crenatus, 

 grandis, latifrons, and phyllanthoides. A large number of garden hybrids 

 are in cultivation, exhibiting a very wide range of colour. 



Rhipsalis. This family has round thin stems, or flattened Phyllo- 

 cactus-like stems, small inconspicuous flowers, and mistletoe-like fruit, 

 which is the chief attraction. R. Cassytha, with numerous white berries, 

 is one of the best. It makes a handsome basket plant, and should be 

 grown like an Epiphyllum. 



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